Nowadays, spaying and castration of Chihuahuas are becoming popular procedures, and an increasing number of people are resorting to this operation. It is carried out to stop the production of germ cells and eliminate the reproductive function of the animal.
The article will discuss how useful and necessary Chihuahua spaying and sterilization is for the health and peace of mind of your animal. It is important to know in which cases surgery is necessary and what effect it will have on the pet, age, Chihuahua’s character type and well-being.
Basic Concepts
Sterilization of a Chihuahua is a type of surgical intervention based on stopping the functioning of the ovaries and uterine cavity in females, and interrupting the development of the testes in males.
After it, reproductive function disappears, offspring do not appear, but attraction to individuals of the opposite sex remains.
After the procedure, animals may experience the effects of hormones, anxiety, and a high risk of developing dangerous diseases. Therefore, owners make a more rational decision - to castrate their Chihuahua.
Castration of a Chihuahua is the complete removal of reproductive glands from animals. In males - testes, in females - ovaries and uterus. In this case, after the procedure, the behavior of the animals changes, the production of hormones is suppressed, and the need for procreation disappears.
It is carried out to reduce the risk of diseases, the appearance of malignant tumors, and also reduce anxiety and aggression.
One of the most pleasant consequences of castration is that they stop lunging at animals and people and leaving marks in the apartment. The dog's desire for the opposite sex completely disappears, and they give all their love to their owners.
Advantages and disadvantages
Many owners are concerned about the health of their dogs after surgery, and they are also concerned that the operation is performed under anesthesia, which can be dangerous.…
If in doubt, find a good clinic where reviews from people who have performed operations on dogs are only positive. With the correct calculation of the narcotic substance per body weight and in relation to health risk factors, the doctor successfully performs castration, and a neutered male or female dog recovers from anesthesia more easily.
Considering that multiple operations using anesthesia are also performed on people, many of them are quite successful, there is no need to worry about this. After all, there are good reasons for carrying out the operation, here are the many advantages of castration:
- Decreased sexual desire and complete refusal to mate;
- Prevention of diseases of internal organs - cancer, inflammation;
- Prevention of purulent and congestive phenomena in the uterus;
- The calmness of the dog, and this is very good for the Chihuahua, its health will only get stronger from this;
- The dog has less pain in the kidneys and liver;
- The dog becomes obedient and stops marking its territory.
There are still some disadvantages, for example, the fact that the dog may gain weight. But this happens if the Chihuahua is overfed and not given exercise. You need to walk a neutered Chihuahua for at least 3 hours a day, include games and following commands in your walk, and not just jogging with the owner.
In rare cases, spontaneous urination has been observed in dogs, such a case is one in 100, and it is treated with mild herbal medications. Every veterinarian who performs an operation calculates the exact dose of medication to administer anesthesia, so there is no need to worry about doing everything correctly, so you should calm down and look at the situation “soberly.”
Only those cases where the dog is chronically ill with something can result in death, and during the operation inflammation may develop in the organ that is close to the operated area. Most often, diseases of internal organs are discovered during surgical intervention; the owner has no idea that the dog has a disease.
From this point of view, it is better to examine all organs in advance, do an ultrasound and other checks. This way you will protect the dog’s life and can castrate without worrying about anything.
There is an opinion that dogs should not be deprived of the joy of sex, and also that a bitch must give birth at least once. But all these are myths and, so to speak, from the category of grandmother’s advice. In fact, chronic diseases, on the contrary, can worsen after childbirth and childbirth does not solve health problems. And the joys of sex are built on instincts, suppressing which will not harm you at all, but will even improve the health of your pet.
Age for spaying and neutering a Chihuahua
Before surgery, consult with your veterinarian, because the age of the Chihuahua is important. It is better to carry out the procedure before the onset of the first heat, but it is necessary after the onset of signs of puberty.
In females this is 4-7 months. Sterilization and castration of Chihuahuas is carried out later - at the age of 7-10 months. At this time, the likelihood of malignant neoplasms developing in the body is minimal.
The positive aspects of spaying and neutering a Chihuahua
First of all, the point is not that a castrated animal is easy to keep and you will not get offspring from it. The most important factor remains improved health.
Great harm to the dog will be thoughtless matings with just anyone, as well as the lack of sex life. If the Chihuahua's body produces hormones, it will require procreation and unintentional mating. This is especially true for bitches.
An unsterilized male has a special need in the first years of life and during estrus in females. As he gets older, his basic instincts subside and he becomes calm in this regard.
This option is active if the male never has sexual intercourse with the female. Otherwise, finding a “bride” will become goal number 1.
If he senses a female in heat, he will lose peace, appetite and exhaust you. Such Chihuahuas are more aggressive and are capable of getting into fights, as well as running away from you after females. This behavior can harm your dog's health and your nervous system. It is worth seriously thinking about the fact that sterilization and castration is the best option. There are no particular risks.
Even if the Chihuahua is domesticated and seemingly calm, hormones will play a role. The solution may be to satisfy sexual needs with someone's leg or favorite toy.
The operation will eliminate emotional and hormonal surges in the body, making the dog calm and balanced after the operation. Therefore, it is worth carrying out, especially in order to reduce the risk of illness of a beloved family member.
Owners of bitches need to know that a hormonal explosion begins with estrus. If you don't breed your Chihuahua, your body may still perceive itself as pregnant.
Therefore, bitches begin to secrete milk, and this increases the risk of developing cysts and neoplasms. The consequence of this attitude can be inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, and even oncology. Sterilization of females solves all these problems and is quite effective. After all, the absence of an organ means the absence of a problem.
Sterilization is necessary if:
- The time of onset of estrus shifts to an earlier and earlier date;
- There are signs of a “false” pregnancy;
- It is very difficult for a dog to endure childbirth;
- There was a miscarriage;
- The dog suffers from diseases of the genitourinary system (vaginitis, endometritis, etc.);
- Benign formations were identified;
- You simply say no to posterity.
Before spaying or neutering your Chihuahua, think about the reasons for making such a decision. A dog can live long and happily, without causing problems, and without being castrated, it depends on the constitution of the body.
If the Chihuahua does not show signs of sexual activity and is completely healthy, age does not yet allow this, then castration is not necessary.
Decoding concepts
To understand what the two spay and neuter operations mean, you need to study them carefully. Many people believe that sterilization is a procedure for females, and castration is for males. This is not entirely true.
Sterilization of a Chihuahua is an effect on the genitals of the bitch, and the interaction of the genital organs - the uterus and ovaries - is disrupted. In this case, the dog may continue to want intimacy with the male and seek a meeting with him. The bitch can also experience estrus and false pregnancies. But the dog will not be able to give birth.
What manipulates the female? Of course, hormones, and under the influence of them the Chihuahua becomes uncontrollable, restless, and so on. Instincts take over, and the owner will have to suffer while raising a Chihuahua bitch who has undergone sterilization surgery.
If you want the dog not to suffer, to live in peace, to prevent various diseases and tumors of the dog’s internal organs, it is better to castrate it.
What does it mean? Contrary to the accepted opinion, you can also castrate a female dog; this is a rather complicated operation, but you cannot do without it. During the operation, the ovaries and, basically, the uterus are completely removed.
That is, the girl stops being a girl, she absolutely ceases to be interested in males. There is no need to worry about castration, you just need to be more attentive to her health and nutrition. Which means loving even more!
As for castration of boys, only you can decide whether to do it. Castration of a male dog - removal of the testes; after the operation, the Chihuahua no longer wants to watch female dogs and his sex drive disappears. This occurs due to the cessation of hormone secretion, the male dog remains content with the love of the owner and bathes in it, so devote enough time and affection to your pet.
The operation itself
So, if you have decided to undergo the procedure, and there are no worries, let’s get started:
- Before the operation, it is necessary to keep the animal on a starvation diet, this is important and the doctor will tell you about it.
- The Chihuahua is put under general anesthesia, the doctor will find out if there are any allergies.
- If necessary, a test is performed. After the anesthesia wears off, the surgeon removes it.
- The ovaries and, if the owner wishes, the uterus are removed using laparoscopy.
- The male scrotum is incised and the contents are removed. After this, stitches and bandages are applied.
Recovery
Castration or sterilization are simple procedures and recovery after them will not take long. There are no special restrictions, the main thing is to pay attention to the well-being of your pet. The sutures are removed within a week, and resorption occurs quickly.
After this, do not forget to treat this area with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents; your veterinarian will prescribe them for you.
You need to feed certain foods, best soft, ground food, porridge, pate. Also, the dog may be prescribed a course of antibiotics.
Take care of absorbent, soft bedding, because sometimes side effects can include diarrhea, vomiting and involuntary urination. Be prepared and stay close to your pet.
Postoperative care
After surgery, the dog will definitely need a lot of attention from the owner. It is necessary to monitor the pet’s condition, its breathing, and body temperature. Dogs usually return to normal life two to three days after the procedure, and after a week the stitches are removed. The owner’s task will be to treat the wound with special antiseptics, which will be prescribed by the doctor performing the operation.
Dogs have a habit of licking their wounds, but this process can harm the dog. To prevent this from happening, you can purchase a special collar or post-operative blanket for your dog.
